Loyalty scheme for pet shops: rewards without stamp cards

Paper stamp cards get lost in coat pockets, and they tell you nothing about who your regulars are. If 10 regular food purchases a month go to the supermarket instead, at $53£40€48A$77C$75 each, that's $532£400€476A$768C$752 a month of sales a pet shop could have kept.

Square Loyalty is a loyalty scheme run from Square's point of sale: customers join with their phone number at the till, earn points and redeem the rewards you set. It's priced per location by loyalty visits a month (an enrollment, a point earned or a reward redeemed): $33£25€30A$48C$47 for up to 500 and $60£45€54A$86C$85 for 501 to 1,500. Set one simple reward, such as a bag of treats after 10 food purchases, and let the till do the counting.

A pet shop in Shrewsbury uses Square at the till and runs paper stamp cards for dog food, with about 400 stamps and rewards a month.

About $67£50€60A$96C$94 a month in profit, at an assumed 25% margin after rewards on $266£200€238A$384C$376 of extra sales (5 purchases at $53£40€48A$77C$75). Square Loyalty is $33£25€30A$48C$47 a month for up to 500 loyalty visits, so the net is about $33£25€30A$48C$47.

1. 1Check you're on Square point of sale; Square Loyalty needs it.
2. 2Start the 30-day free trial and set one simple reward, such as treats after 10 food purchases.
3. 3Ask customers at the till if they'd like to join with their phone number, and say what it's used for.
4. 4Watch your monthly loyalty visits so you know which price band you're in.
5. 5After 3 months, compare repeat food purchases with the months before.

• Price bands go by loyalty visits; a busy month over 500 moves you to $60£45€54A$86C$85.
• Sending marketing texts or emails to members needs their consent under PECR.
• Rewards cost margin; on low-margin food, reward with treats or toys that carry a better margin.